Project Experience

SNEI works in a magnitude of different industries including Solar, Gas Pipelines, Electric Power Transmission Lines, Fiber Optic Lines, Renewables, Water Pipelines, Wastewater Pipelines, Land Development and Roadway Projects. The services range includes conducting pre-project inventory surveys for various species, clearance surveys, translocation, construction monitoring and report writing.

Select a Project

SoCalGas Operation & Maintenance

Gemini Solar Project

Kern River Gas Transmission Company

SNWA Operation & Maintenance

Coyote Springs Development

Castle Mountain Mine

VEA Transmission Lines

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

SoCalGas Operation & Maintenance

Project Summary: SNEI provides support on SoCalGas Operation & Maintenance (O&M), Pipeline Integrity (PI), and Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan (PSEP) projects, as needed, for any activities occurring on natural gas pipelines throughout Southern California.

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 and Section 10 biological monitoring
SWPPP compliance for various pipeline and facility maintenance projects throughout the Mojave Desert
Ensure project compliance with sensitive species which include the Mojave desert tortoise, Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Coachella Valley milk vetch, Mojave fringe-toed lizard, burrowing owl, Mohave ground squirrel and migratory birds
Handle and relocate the Mojave desert tortoise
Excavate Mojave desert tortoise burrows and relocate nests
Perform nesting bird surveys for migratory bird and raptor nests

Gemini Solar Project

Project Summary: SNEI provides support on the construction of the largest solar project in the country of its kind. The Gemini Solar Project sits in an unincorporated area of Clark County, near Moapa, and will consist of a 690-megawatt AC solar and battery storage, capable of storing more than 1,400 megawatt hours of solar power and is projected to feature over 2.5 million solar modules installed on 7,100 acres of land.

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 and Section 10 biological monitoring
Perform Desert Tortoise surveys ahead of the installation of 47 miles of temporary tortoise exclusionary fencing, and ongoing throughout the construction of the multi-year project.
Surveyed and flagged sensitive botanical species for avoidance
Perform nesting bird surveys ahead of 47 miles of temporary fence installation, and throughout the construction of the project, and implement buffers where appropriate.
Perform fence routine fence checks for breaches, repair minor breaches
Provide ongoing construction monitoring and surveying efforts to support the project

Kern River Gas Transmission Company

Project Summary: SNEI provides support on Kern River Gas Transmission Company (KRGT) projects, as needed for installation, repair or replacement of natural gas pipelines throughout portions of Nevada and California

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 biological monitoring for various pipeline projects
Conduct sensitive species pre-construction surveys
Ensure project compliance of KRGT’s USFWS Biological Opinion and the CDFW Incidental Take Permit with regard to sensitive species which include the Mojave Desert Tortoise, Burrowing Owl and migratory birds
Handle and relocate Mojave Desert Tortoise

SNWA Operation & Maintenance

Project Summary: SNEI provides support on Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) projects, as needed, for any activities occurring at existing facilities throughout Clark County, Nevada.

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 biological monitoring for various facility maintenance projects throughout Clark County
Ensure project compliance with sensitive species which include the Mojave desert tortoise, burrowing owl and migratory birds
Handle and relocate Mojave desert tortoise
Perform nesting bird surveys for migratory bird and raptor nests

Coyote Springs Development

Project Summary: SNEI provides support on a master planned community located in Coyote Springs, Nevada. The master planned community is located on approximately 43,000 acres of land in Clark and Lincoln County.

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 and Section 10 biological monitoring
SWPPP compliance for various land development projects
Ensure project compliance with sensitive species, which include the Mojave desert tortoise, Gila monster, burrowing owl, and migratory birds
Attach, remove and maintain radio trackers
Weekly/monthly radio telemetry tracking
Conduct health assessments on Mojave desert tortoise
Translocate Mojave desert tortoises
Excavate Mojave desert tortoise burrows
Relocate Mojave desert tortoise nests

Castle Mountain Mine

Project Summary: SNEI performed a 1,133 acre desert tortoise clearance survey on BLM and private land at the Castle Mountain Mine. The mine is located in Hart, San Bernardino County, California.

Responsibilities include:

Conducted a Mojave desert tortoise clearance survey according to USFWS protocols
Ensured 100% coverage with two passes using 5-meter transects
Handle and relocate Mojave desert tortoise
Excavate all burrows
Relocate Mojave desert tortoise nests

VEA Transmission Lines

Project Summary: SNEI provided support on the construction of several Valley Electric Association (VEA) transmission projects. SNEI’s biologists were on the following lines: Johnnie to Northwest, Vista to Pahrump, Beatty to Tolicha Peak, and Innovation to Mercury. All of these transmission lines lie in Clark and/or Nye Counties, Nevada. The lines varied from 230-kV transmission lines to 24.9-kV distribution lines.

Responsibilities include:

Perform ESA Section 7 and Section 10 biological monitoring various transmission and facility construction projects
Ensure project compliance with sensitive species which include the Mojave desert tortoise, burrowing owl, Gila monster and migratory birds
Handle and relocate Mojave desert tortoise
Excavate Mojave desert tortoise burrows
Relocate Mojave desert tortoise nests
Perform nesting bird surveys for migratory bird and raptor nests

Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System

Project Summary: SNEI provided support on Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System (ISEGS) Project. ISEGS is the largest thermal solar system in the world with a 377-megawatt net solar complex. The ISEGS project is in San Bernardino County, California.

Responsibilities include:

Perform Mojave desert tortoise presence/absence surveys at the suggested translocation sites